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CCIFB awards spotlight the breadth of French-Bulgarian business ties
The French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry used its CCIFB Stars gala in Sofia to showcase a wide mix of companies shaping bilateral business ties. The awards covered established French investors, Bulgarian firms with international reach, and younger cross-border players.
Award ceremony ©CCIFB
FTS Insights official • This is less a single company story than a useful map of where French-Bulgarian business ties are active today. The same stage brought together infrastructure and industrial investors, benefit platforms, logistics operators, software and AI companies, a space player and a design startup. For French Tech Sofia, that mix matters: it shows that the corridor between France and Bulgaria is not limited to large corporates, but is also broadening into newer innovation-led segments.
Key Takeaways
- French-Bulgarian business ties now span utilities, industry, logistics, retail, software, space and design.
- The story is not only about large incumbents; newer tech and startup profiles are also visible.
- French investment in Bulgaria continues to show up through manufacturing and infrastructure projects.
- CCIFB remains a practical node for tracking bilateral business momentum.
Why this matters
- The awards offer a compact snapshot of where French-Bulgarian economic cooperation is most visible today.
- Tech names such as EnduroSat and Sirma appeared alongside large industrial groups, showing a wider ecosystem mix.
- The investment figures cited at the event point to long-term French commitment in Bulgaria.
- Adding 25 new members suggests the chamber's business network is still expanding.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
May 13, 2026
French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awards 20 Companies, Individuals
by Dimitrina Solakova; Delyan Petrishki
Article Summary
The CCIFB awarded 20 companies and individuals during a ceremony in Sofia held under the auspices of French Ambassador to Bulgaria Marie Dumoulin. According to the chamber, the awards recognized contributions to Bulgaria's international standing, economic environment and attractiveness for investment.
The list of recipients spanned utilities, industrial production, agriculture, logistics, retail, food vouchers, aviation, wine, law, design, AI and space. Among the companies highlighted were Veolia Bulgaria, Air Liquide Bulgaria, EnduroSat, Sirma, Latecoere Bulgaria, Malterie Soufflet Bulgaria, Speedy, Schneider Electric, Pluxee and 17 Senses Design.
Several awards pointed to ongoing French industrial investment in Bulgaria. The article cites Air Liquide's new plant in Pirdop, Schneider Electric's high-tech facility in Plovdiv and Malterie Soufflet's investment in Pleven. At the same time, companies such as EnduroSat and Sirma signaled the presence of newer technology and innovation profiles within the same French-Bulgarian business network.
The event also underlined the chamber's role as an ecosystem platform. BTA reports that CCIFB has 350 members, welcomed 25 new members during the event, and has worked with InvestBulgaria for 20 years on projects that the agency says amount to more than EUR 600 million and over 2,200 jobs.
Key Highlights
- CCIFB awarded 20 companies and individuals at its CCIFB Stars gala in Sofia on May 13, 2026.
- The chamber said it has 350 members and welcomed 25 new members during the event.
- Awarded companies ranged from utilities and industry to space, AI, logistics, retail and design.
- InvestBulgaria said 20 years of cooperation with CCIFB led to 13 projects worth over EUR 600 million and more than 2,200 jobs.
- The awards highlighted both major French investors in Bulgaria and Bulgarian companies with cross-border reach.
Takeaway
The CCIFB Stars gala works as an ecosystem signal as much as an awards ceremony. It shows how French-Bulgarian business ties are being built across mature sectors and newer innovation fields at the same time.
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